Lamp chimney and assembly



July 15, 1969 E. E. BARTLETT 3,456,105

LAMP CHIMNEY AND ASSEMBLY Filed Dec. 30, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR.

Edward E. Barf/eff 32m, 2% wtzd z/ HIS ATTORNE Y5 United States Patent 3,456,105 LAMP CHIMNEY AND ASSEMBLY Edward E. Bartlett, P.0. Box 1688, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands Filed Dec. 30, 1966, Ser. No. 606,334 Int. Cl. F21v 1/02 US. Cl. 240-98 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A lamp employing a glass chimney and a light producing support head for the chimney. Use is made of flexible prongs projecting from the head, each having a flexible loop portion, a flared guide portion and a latching shoulder to cooperatively receive and position a bottom heel part of the chimney. The heel part is surmounted at its lower end by an annular edge, has a substantially cylindrical shape of reduced diameter with respect to a central portion of the body of the chimney, and has a radiallyoutwardly oflset annular latching band in an intermediate position thereon. The annular edge and the latching band of the heel part cooperate with the prongs of the burner to flexibly-securely position the chimney on the support head and enable the chimney to also be positioned in an upwardly-spaced relation with respect to the support head.

This invention pertains to an improved lamp chimney assembly and particularly, to the provision of an improved mounting and operating relation between a glass chimney and a metal burner. One aspect of the invention deals with an improved vitreous or glass chimney construction and another aspect deals with an improved lamp or burner head construction that is especially constructed for use with the improved chimney.

Vitreous or glass lamp chimneys have heretofore had a relatively short operating life, due to the temperature variations to which they are subjected, and due to the fact that they have to be held in place with respect to a lamp or burner head and moved into and out of position with respect to the head in replacing them and also in servicing the light or in lighting the wick of the burner. Ordinary glass has a high coefiicient of expansion and contraction as compared with associated parts of a metal lamp or burner head and this leads to excessive stresses and strains which tend to cause failure of the chimney, particularly adjacent its lower heel or mounting part and under the temperature variations which are encountered. Although it has been proposed to thicken the chimney, it has been found that this is not the answer to the problem.

There has also been some tendency for the chimneys to be damaged at their mounting or heel part merely from mechanical usage and by reason of the fact that clamping prongs or fingers are used for holding it in position on the lamp or burner head. It is advantageous from the standpoint of manufacturing costs and from the standpoint of a quicker dissipation of heat to provide a lamp chimney of as thin wall section as possible. This desideratum, however, has been limited by the tensioned mounting of the chimney on the lamp head in an endeavor to maintain it in a secure position during the use of the lamp. It is also desirable to make the chimney of a one-piece construction and of as simple contour as practicable and desirable from an aesthetic standpoint to minimize the cost of manufacture.

Although a thickened heel edge is desirable in a vitreous lamp chimney, it does not solve the problem involved in providing an assembly which will fully meet the various factors involved, from the standpoint of the need for a better mechanical strength of the mounting or heel part 3,456,105 Patented July 15, 1969 ice and from the standpoint of providing a maximum security of the chimney in its mounted relation with respect to the burner, while at the same time, providing the chimney with a greatly increased operating life.

It has thus been an object of the invention to devise a lamp chimney whose wall thickness may be minimized throughout its body extent and desirably made of the same uniform thickness and which will, at the same time, have an improved operating life;

Another object has been to provide a lamp chimney construction that will have a maximum life in utilization and, at the same time, that will enable an improved mounted or assembled relation with respect to a lamp or burner head;

A further object of the invention has been to devise a new and improved form of mounted relationship between a lamp chimney and a lamp head that will enable a better manipulation of the chimney during its assembly and disassembly with respect to the head and during its movement for access to a light means or burner wick;

A still further object of the invention has been to provide a more positive position retaining relationship between a lamp chimney and its associated lamp head and to do so in such a manner as to minimize stress and strain on the chimney;

A still further object has been to device a new and improved means for receiving and retaining a lamp chimney on a lamp head;

These and other objects of the invention will appear to those skilled in the art from the illustrated embodiment and the claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side view in elevation that is fragmental with respect to a hydrocarbon or oil container, illustrating a lamp having an improved chimney and head or burner constructed in accordance with the invention; in this figure the chimney is shown in an initial, guided position with respect to prongs or gripping fingers of the burner;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmental side view in elevation on the scale of FIGURE 1, illustrating the chimney in a horizontal second position or first flexibly-secured position with respect to the prongs of the head, wherein it is spaced upwardly with respect to the head;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmental side view in elevation on an enlarged scale with respect to FIGURES 1 and 2, iliustrating a final or fully down, flexibly-secured position of the chimney which corresponds to the normal operating position of the assembly;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmental side view on the scale of FIGURES l and 2, illustrating a tilted alternate intermediate position of the chimney;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the lamp head or burner part of the assembly of FIGURES 1 to 4, on a slightly enlarged scale with respect to FIGURES l, 2, and 4;

FIGURE 6 is a bottom plan view on the scale of and of the lamp head of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a vertical view in elevation, particularly illustrating a bottom support part of the lamp head of FIGURES 5 and 6 and its latching prongs or fingers; this figure is on the scale of FIGURES 5 and 6; and

FIGURE 8 is a bottom plan view on the scale of FIG- URE 7 showing the support part of such figure as assembled with a bottom mounting part or fitting of the head.

In carrying out the invention, I have discovered that the lower mounting or heel part or wall of the body of a lamp chimney 10 may be of the same relatively thinwall thickness of the remaining or main body portions thereof and, at the same time, can be provided with a greatly increased strength under the stresses and strains of its utilization by employing an upwardly-spaced, offset, annular wall corrugation, annulus or band 11c with a bottom annulus, flange, annular edge, rim or band 11a. The upper annular wall band 11c may be of the same wall thickness as a heel part 11 of the chimney; as formed, it defines an inner annular groove and an outer rounded flange or band.

This construction of the heel part 11 of the chimney makes possible its formation of generally cylindrical shape and its utilization with either a conventional light head or burner unit or, as an optimum, with an improved head 15 of the invention. As utilized in the latter respect, the chimney is positively-flexibly-gripped or secured in its fully down or final position with respect to the head 15. It is securely held in such a manner as to remain in its fully down position when the lamp is tilted or accidentally hit or jarred. It is held with a more flexible and lesser tension force in such a position. The upwardly-spaced wall band 11c reinforces its mounting part or heel wall 11 and serves as an upper circular or annular horizontal axis of support, as employed with prongs or spring gripping fingers 27 of the head 15; the lower annular heel band 11a serves as a lower base support for the chimney 10 on a peripheral, outwardly-projecting, shelf-like flange or ledge 21a of the head 15 (see FIGURE 3). The gripping action of the clamping fingers or prongs 27 of the head is exerted in a vertical or longitudinal direction to hold it in position between the two spaced-apart strengthening bands 11a and 110, such that the stress and strain of the holding action is distributed over a greater area and particularly, through the maximum section of the heel wall 11 of the chimney, rather than principally as a tension force, fully radially or transversely against the thin wall of such heel wall or lower mounting part 11.

This provides a positive clamped positioning of the chimney 10, so that it cannot be displaced from its final position (see FIGURE 3) by tilting the lamp or striking it against an object. The construction is also such that the clamping fingers or flexible prongs 27 have a central planar latching portion 11b that is substantially the width of the vertical spacing between the two bands 11a and 110. Thus, the chimney can be moved upwardly to a second position (see FIGURE 2) in a spaced relation from its final or bottom position to service head 15 and remove dirt from around the upper portion of the light head or burner 15. Further, the gripping fingers or prongs 27 have upper, outwardly-flared end portions 271' constructed to guidably-receive, center and enable the chimney to be slid downwardly or pulled upwardly into and out of its positions (see FIGURE 1). Finally, the construction or assembly is such that the chimney 10 may be tilted, if desired, at its down position on the burner, rather than fully lifted to an upper horizontal plane (see FIGURE 4). It will be noted that the chimney 10 cannot be tilted until an outward spreading force is manually applied to at least one of the gripping fingers or prongs 27; it can be manually directly vertically-lifted to the position of FIGURE 2 and from the latter position to the position of FIGURE 1, and vice versa.

With particular reference to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, vitreous or glass lamp chimney 10 which may be fully transparent or translucent, is shown provided with a body having an open top end portion or neck 10a connected by a major central body portion 10d to an openend, bottom mounting end portion or heel wall 11. The portion 10d is preferably bulbous, as shown. The upper end portion 10a is shown of substantially cylindrical configuration and surmounted at its open end by an annular reinforcing, thickened, lip edge portion having an annular flange 10b and a beaded edge 100. It will be appreciated that a smooth edge may be provided instead of a beaded edge. The beaded edge 100 provides an upper lip that defines its upper open end. Central body portion 10a is of bulbous or outwardly expanded shape to define a flame chamber, while the bottom end portion which is connected thereto and is shown of cylindrical shape, defines the heel part 11 for the chimney 10. The heel part or wall 11 is shown of slightly larger diameter than the upper end portion 10a and of smaller diameter than the central portion 10d.

The heel wall or part 11, at its lower end, is shown surmounted by the annular edge, band, rim, or flange portion 11a of rounded-thickened section that defines the open bottom end which is adapted to receive or fit over the burner or lamp head 15. The wall band, flange or annulus of outwardly-rounded shape is vertically spaced on the heel part 11 above the band or rim edge 11a to define an intermediate cylindrical portion 11b therebetween. It will be noted from FIGURE 1 that the thickness of the wall of the chimney 10 is substantially uniform as to the body portions 10a, 10d, and 11, as well as from the standpoint of the annular band 11c. The band 11c is in the nature of a corrugation in the wall of the heel part 11, in that it represents an outwardlydeformed portion of the wall wherein its inner side is grooved and its outer side is rounded or given a convex shape.

It has been determined that the banding portion 110, by reason of its construction and location, greatly increases the strength of the heel part 11 against shock, stress and strain such as may be imparted thereto by forces of contraction and expansion and, in cooperation with flexible gripping prongs or fingers 27 of the burner unit 15, provides two flexibly-secured, latching positions for the lamp chimney 10. It provides an improved type of latching engagement from the standpoint of the prongs 27 when the lamp chimney 10 is positioned on the light head or burner unit 15.

The light head or burner unit 15 may, as shown, be provided with an upwardly-projecting, rounded, wick-receiving hollow burner cap 17, a central chimney mounting and support shelf part 21 of disk-like shape, and a central bottom mounted support part 25. An elongated, wickreceiving guide sleeve or oblong shell 18 is shown positioned to extend through the parts of the head 15 to receive conventional fabric wick 16. The wick 16, as customary, will project into the hydrocarbon fluid or liquid receiving hollow container 26. When the head 15 carries an electric light socket bulb instead of a wick assembly, the container 26 principally functions as a base or stand for the lamp. The container 26, at its upper end, is shown provided with an internally-threaded female fitting 26a for removably-receiving a male threaded portion 25a of a mounting part or fitting 25.

As illustrated particularly in FIGURES 5 and 6, the wick 16 may be adjusted as to its positioning with respect to the burner cap 17 in a conventional manner by an operating stem 20. The stem 20 has an operating wheel 20a secured on its outer end and spaced-apart cog wheels 19 secured on its inner end portion to engage a side portion of the wick in its vertical, slidable position within the guide sleeve 18.

As shown particularly in FIGURES l and 3, the disklike support shelf part 21, adjacent its outer periphery, has an annular rim, vertical wall portion or shoulder 21a which terminates in a radially-outwardly-projecting, peripheral, positioning flange 21b. The positioning flange 21b extends at right angles to the portion 21a to provide a mounting for the annular lower edge band 11a of the lamp chimney 10. Normally, as shown in FIGURE 3, the annular edge band 11a of the chimney rests on upwardly projecting, peripherally spaced-apart, ribs 22 that extend radially-outwardly on the flange 21b and, in their transverse projection and peripherally spaced-apart relation, define a spacing between the edge band 11a and the light head 15 when the chimney 10 is in its full down or final position, as when lamp wick 16 has been lighted and the lamp is in use.

It will be noted in FIGURE 3 that the annular edge band 11a is normally slightly spaced outwardly from the shoulder or rim 21a, but that the shoulder serves as a guide for the attainment of the alignment of the chimney in its final position down on the light head or burner unit 15. The cap part 17 may, as shown in FIGURE 5, be liftably or hingedly-mounted on the disk-like central part 21 by a hinge tab 17a and, at its opposite end, may have a lift tab 1711. This provides for trimming the wick, etc.

Third or prong support part 23 is illustrated in FIG- URES 7 and 8. As shown, it may have four, quadrantlocated and outwardly-projecting mounting fingers 24. Irrespective of the number of prongs, whether three or more in number, there will be at least two of the group in an opposed relation with one other prong of the group. When, as preferred, four prongs are used, they may be in radially-opposed pairs. Each finger 24 has a pair of intermediate fold-over tabs 24a for securely-clamping a lower mounting end portion 27:: of an associated flexible latching finger or prong 27 thereon. It also has a pair of fold-over end tabs 24b that are adapted to extend through holes in the part 21 (see FIGURE 5) to secure it in position thereon. The part 23 is also, as shown particularly in FIGURE 8, provided with oppositely-positioned pairs of fold-over tabs 23b for securing a flange portion of the mounting part 25 centrally thereto to project downwardly therefrom. The fingers 24 securely-rigidly support the lower end portions 27a of the flexible latching prongs or fingers 27 to project outwardly and upwardly therefrom.

As illustrated particularly in FIGURES 1, 3, and 7, the prongs 27 are secured to the underside of the head 15 and below and in a downwardly spaced relation with respect to the positioning shelf or flange 21a. Each prong 27 has a spring portion, a latching portion, a pair of vertically spaced-apart latching shoulders and a guide portion. An outwardly-downwardly declining lower portion 27b is connected at one end to the mounting portion 270 and, at its other end, to a shoulder or connecting fold or loop 270. It will be noted that the loop 270 is connected at its upper end to a vertical, upwardly-extending side 27d that is, in turn, connected to an upwardlyinwardly-inclined portion 27e. The combined portions 27b to 272 define an outwardly-spaced spring portion or part of each prong 27 that gives it a high flexibility and permits its free movement with respect to other parts of the light head or burner unit 15. The inwardly-upwardlyinclined portion 272 is connected at its upper end to a vertical latching portion 27g which is, in turn, connected at its upper end to an outwardly-upwardly inclined or flared guide portion 271'.

The horizontal, annular or circular edge line of connection, as represented by 27 between the portions 27e and 27g, provides an inner latching or shoulder. The shoulder 27 acts as a pivot when, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 of the drawings, it is desired to apply a manual force to one of the prongs 27 to tilt the chimney for the purpose of lighting the wick or cleaning the upper portion of the head 15. It principally serves as a latching abutment and position-retaining edge with respect to the annular wall band 11c of the lamp chimney 10.

The horizontal, annular or circular edge line of connection 2711 between the portions 27g and 27i serves as an inner latching edge shoulder from the standpoint of the lower portion of the annular wall band 11c of the lamp chimney 10 when the chimney is in the position of FIGURE 2. It will be noted from FIGURE 2 that when the lamp chimney 10 is in its raised, flexibly-securelylatched, upper horizontal position that the latching portion 27g has an extent substantially corresponding to the length or extent of the heel portion 1111 between the bands 11a and 11c, and such that the portions 271' and 27h serve as limit stops and flexible latching shoulders by their engagement between the lower side of the bead 11c and the upper side of the bead 11a. It will also be noted that the portion 27g, at this time, has a substantially parallel engagement with and along the heel portion 11b.

As illustrated, the lamp chimney 10 may be inserted into a preliminarily aligned position between the prongs 27 and with respect to the head 15 and its positioning flange 21a by vertically-guiding it downwardly between the outwardly-flared portions 27i to the initial position of FIGURE 1. Next, the chimney 10 may be forced further downwardly to an intermediate or first latched position of FIGURE 2; this is the position at which the wick 16 may be lit or the upper portions of the head 15 cleaned. At this time, the latching portion 27g extends between the annular bands 11a and 11c, along and parallel to the wall portion 11b of the heel part 11. It is a position that is flexibly-secure, as further insured by the engagement of the shoulders 27 and 2711 with inner portions of the bands 11a and 110. The final position of the chimney 10 is attained by further moving it downwardly until the upper shoulder 27 engages the upper side of the upper annular band 11c (see FIGURE 3). At this time, the prongs 27 are slightly sprung outwardly and flexible latching force is principally exerted on the upper side of the band 11c and vertically along the wall of the heel 11 between the upper band and the lower band 11a.

If it is desired in inspecting the head 15 or in lighting the wick 16, to tilt the lamp chimney 10, this may be accomplished by manually engaging the flared portion 27i of one of the prongs 27 and flexing it outwardly while, at the same time, tilting the heel 11 away from such prong. This is only a temporary, manually-held position, while the position of FIGURE 2 is a secure position and may be retained when the lamp is not in use.

I claim:

1. In an improved integral glass lamp chimney of relatively thin-wall construction for removable mounting on a lamp head having a group of flexible prongs each being provided with spaced-apart upper and lower shoulders defining an upwardly-spaced vertically-extending latching portion and wherein the chimney has a bulbous central portion and open top and bottom end portions, said top end portion being a neck part surmounted by a lip edge and said bottom end portion being a heel part surmounted at its lower end by an annular positioning edge band of radially-outwardly projecting and rounded symmetrical shape, said central portion converging into said neck and heel parts, said heel part being of substantially cylindrical shape and of reduced diameter with respect to and extending from said central portion, a radial]y-outwardly-convex and inwardly-concave annular wall band in a verticallyintermediate position on said heel part and in a spaced relation above said annular edge band, a latching wall of substantially cylindrical shape defined between said annular edge and annular wall bands and having a vertical extent equal to the vertical extent of the latching portion of each of the prongs, whereby the chimney may be securely-held in an upper position with respect to the head between said annular bands and by engagement of the latching portion of each of the prongs with said latching wall, the lamp chimney having a substantially uniform cross-sectional wall thickness between said lip edge and said annular edge band and along said annular wall band, and said lip edge and said annular edge band each being of thickened section.

2. In an improved lamp construction employing a lamp head and a removable integral glass lamp chimney of relatively thin-walled construction, an annular positioning flange extending about the outer periphery of said head for receiving and positioning the lamp chimney thereon, a group of peripherally spaced-apart and opposed flexible prongs on said head; each of said prongs having a radially-outwardly offset and vertically-upwardlyextending flexible lower loop portion secured to said head, having a vertically-extending radially-inwardly-oifset upper latching portion of substantially cylindrical shape,

having an upper radially-outwardly-flared guide portion to guidably-receive said chimney, having a lower latching shoulder connecting an upper end of said loop portion to a lower end of said latching portion, and having an upper latching shoulder connecting an upper end of said latching portion with the lower end of said flared guide portion; said chimney having a substantially cylindrical heel wall open at its bottom end, a radially-outwardly projecting annular edge band about the lower end of said heel wall defining an opening therein to receive said head, an annular wall band about said heel wall and located in an intermediate vertical position thereon and projecting outwardly to define an outer convex face and an inner concave face in a vertically-spaced position above said annular edge band, the latching portion of each of said prongs having a vertical length substantially corresponding to the spacing between said annular edge band and said annular wall band, whereby said upper and lower latching shoulders will flexibly latch-engage said bands therebetwecn and said latching portion will engage along the heel wall for flexibly-securely positioning said chimney body on said head in an initial upwardly-spaced relation above said positioning flange, and said lower latching shoulder of each of said prongs being constructed to flexibly-engage an upper side of said annular wall band with said latching portion extending along said heel wall thereabove and with said annular edge band positioned on said annular positioning flange for flexibly-securelypositionin-g said lamp chimney in a final down-mounted position of said head.

3. In an improved lamp construction as defined in claim 2, said annular positioning flange being located peripheral- 1y about a lower portion of said head, and said loop portion of each of said prongs being secured to project from an underside of said head in a downwardly and radiallyoutwardly spaced relation with respect to said positioning flange.

4. In an improved lamp construction as defined in claim 2, said lamp chimney being of substantially uniform crosssectional wall thickness between said lip edge and said annular bottom edge band and through said annular wall band, and said lip edge and said annular edge band being of thickened wall section.

5. In an improved lamp construction as defined in claim 2, ribs extending radially-outwardly on an upper face of said positioning flange in a peripherally spaced-apart relation with each other to receive and position said annular edge band of said lamp chimney when the chimney is in its final down-mounted position on said head.

6. In an improved lamp construction as defined in claim 5, an annular shoulder projecting upwardly from adjacent an inner periphery of said positioning flange at a radiallyinwardly spaced position with respect to the outer peripheral edge of said flange to define an inner limiting abutment for said heel wall when said lamp chimney is in its final down-mounted position on said head.

7. An improved lamp construction as defined in claim 1, wherein said chimney has an open top end portion surmounted by a reinforcing beaded lip edge of thickened section.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 95,667 10/1869 Dithridge 24094 480,404 8/1892 Hipwell 24099 618,806 1/1899 Ripley 24094 645,669 3/1900 McHenry 24099 1,199,527 9/1916 Brown 24099 NORTON ANSI-IER, Primary Examiner ROBERT P. GREINER, Assistant Examiner 

